How To Do Your Hair and Makeup for the Perfect Profile Picture

5 Beauty Panel tips on how to to make sure your makeup and hair is always on point.

Date September 2, 2016

A new season calls for a new you—or at least an updated profile picture. With summer coming to a close, it’s time to retire those pics of you on the beach and replace them with something that is more IG than Tinder. While you don’t need to go full-on glam for the perfect photo, there are some tips beauty wise that can help you get the most flattering results. To help us out, we tapped our Beauty Panel bloggers for their tips. Whether you are updating your LinkedIn or Facebook profile picture, here are tips on how to to make sure your makeup and hair is always on point.

Challenge 124: How do you do your hair and makeup for the perfect profile picture?

Have a beauty question you want to see the panel answer? Send it our way at [email protected]. Read on for the answers to this week’s challenge and get to know all contributors on our Beauty Panel hub page.

Colleen Conroy
Vancouver | Blush Rouge

What makes for the most flattering profile pic? Personally, I think it is the most flattering when you let your personality show through. Show your sassy self, try something new, or stay nice and natural. Capture a look that makes you feel confident and comfortable because whatever makes you feel good is when you’re going to shine the brightest.

Products used: Urban Decay Naked Concealer in “Light Neutral,” M.A.C Cosmetics Mineralize Powder in “Medium,” M.A.C Mineralize Powder in “Give Me Sun, “M.A.C Lipstick in “All Fired Up,” Hot Tools 1” Curling Iron, Batiste XXL Dry Shampoo, RUSK W8less Plus Hairspray.

Photography by Post Photography

Katie Elwood
Vancouver | Katie Elwood

We have all been guilty of putting up a photo on our Instagram or Facebook profile that later leaves us thinking, WTF?! After I started using my social media as part of my makeup business, I re-thought how I presented myself on my various profiles. Since companies, employers, potential first dates, etc., all usually look you up online, here are my tips to make sure your makeup and hair is always on point in all of your photos.

Choose your makeup wisely.
Pick makeup colours that work well with your skin tone, eye and hair colour. Use shades that enhance your features and stay true to how you usually wear your makeup. I stick with brown shadows, and coral or pink shades for lips and cheeks because I know they will make me look my best.

Smooth fly-aways.
Pick a hairstyle that isn’t too messy—unless it is on purpose. Messy beach waves are always a good style in my opinion. Whatever style you do choose, make sure to use a smoothing comb and hairspray to tame any frizzy pieces.

Control shine.
I love dewy makeup, but there is a fine line between glowing and shiny. Dust powder very lightly on your T-zone as the final step when doing your makeup. My favourite is Laura Mercier Translucent powder. Ultimately, when in doubt, the best profile pic should always be a classic and polished photo of yourself.

Products used: Laura Mercier Original Primer, Clé De Peau Radiant Cream Foundation in “BF 20,” Clé De Peau Concealer in “Beige,” RMS Beauty Eye Polish in “Solar,” Urban Decay 24hr Eyeliner in “Demolition,” L’Oréal Carbon Black Volume Building Mascara, Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow, Rodial Blush in “Copocabana,” Fresh Sugar Coral Lip Treatment.

Samantha Johnston
Toronto | Instagram

I find the most flattering profile picture is something as close to the real you as possible. Everybody can spot an overly staged, disingenuous photo from a mile away. In the age of social media, your profile picture is your calling card. It’s the first thing people see and the first way to make an impression. Do you want people to see the best version of you? Then relax. Put on the makeup you feel most comfortable in and take a candid photo.

My current profile picture is from a few weeks ago, lounging around on a Sunday morning. I live in red lipstick (Bésame Cosmetics in “Red Hot Red”), done up brows (Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow in “Ash Brown”) and a cat eye, so this look was no stretch for me.

As far as my hair goes, I used to go all out and create the perfect pin-up curls every morning, but lately I’m on my way to work at 7 a.m. and I’d rather spend those precious minutes in my bed than using a curling iron. This hair is what people are more likely to see me with these days (that being a spritz of salt spray and some bedhead), and, to be honest, I’ve never felt more like myself. Nutshell? The most flattering photo of you is going to be the one you feel the most comfortable or genuine in. This can mean wearing a lot of makeup or none at all. It can mean perfectly tousled waves or carefully crafted bedhead. It’s all up to you.

Rebecca Pilozo
Toronto | Rebecca’s Beauty Boudoir

You don’t need a glam squad to achieve celebrity-styled hair and makeup, or even a photographer to take a photo. By enhancing (not transforming) the features you were blessed with, you can achieve the most flattering look for your social media profile pics.

I’m a huge believer that the key to photo-ready makeup starts with a good base. My skin looks best when I wear matte face makeup in photographs while using high-coverage foundations. The combination of the two leaves my skin looking smoother without any filters.

I like to tight line the top of my lash line before taking a selfie to make my eyes appear bigger, and then I pop on a pair of demi style lashes for a feminine touch. After this, my smizing game is all ready for the camera.

When it comes to my hair, soft waves are always my go-to, but for a silky, non-frizzy look, the right styling products and a good hairbrush by my side keeps it looking #instagood.

Products used: Too Faced Born This Way Foundation in “Warm Nude,” Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in “Light,” Stila Shape & Shade Custom Contour Duo in “Medium,” Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer, Nars Orgasm Blush, Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil in “5,” Make Up For Ever Artist Palette in “Volume 1,” Nudes, Ardell Demi Wispies Lashes, Make Up For Ever Artist Rouge Lipstick in “C211 Rose Wood,” TO112 Hair Cream, Tangle Teezer Compact Styler in “Lulu Guinness Lip Print.”

Marilou Moles
Ottawa | Twenty York Street

Profile pictures can sometimes make or break a potential relationship in social media —be it a personal connection or a business one. It’s the very first visual representation of who you are, so presenting yourself in your most natural state is the best way to go.

Firstly, wear your hair naturally like I did here, whether it is straight, wavy or curly. Wearing it in braids or a (semi) messy ponytail can also make for an attractive hairstyle. Secondly, choose minimal yet fun makeup that will not mask your features but enhance your beautiful face. Healthy, glowing skin is a must, so the Quo Cosmetics Forever Flawless Cushion System Foundation is a huge help for me when I’m in front of the camera. For a hint of interest, add an accessory like a flower crown, a bejewelled hair clip or, in this case, a fedora.

Products used: Korres Wild Rose Facial Oil, Korres Brightening Targeted Tone Corrector, Reversa Radiance Cream with SPF 30, Arbonne Sheer Glow Highlighter, Shiseido Volumizing Mascara, Stila Cosmetics Perfect Me, Perfect Hue Eye & Cheek Palette, Quo from Shoppers Eyeliner, Quo Forever Flawless Cushion System Foundation, Rimmel Lipliner in “101 You’re All Mine,” Nyx Liquid Satin in “Tea & Cookies.”